This is a man who landed his dream job at age 58 and since his hiring on April 28 has moved with the frenetic energy of a man about 30 years younger.

"I'm looking forward to maybe bring some stability to the program," said Anderson, the former star player at Mizzou and later a longtime assistant to the legendary Norm Stewart. He appeared at the Tiger Club of Springfield on Monday.

Passed over twice, he finally was hired by Tigers athletic director Mike Alden after Frank Haith bolted for Tulsa. Before that, Mike Anderson went to Arkansas. Pre-Mike Anderson saw Quin Snyder flame out after a fast start.

"I would never be critical of previous coaches because they all did very well," Anderson said. "But maybe I'll bring something in that's a little bit different. The fact that I'm not going anywhere.

"This is my home."

It's been a whirlwind few months for Anderson, who guided Central Missouri to a Division II national championship a few weeks before returning to Missouri. He's put together a staff, hit the recruiting trail and supervised summer workouts.

Yep, it's been a lot of work — but it hasn't felt like work.

"It's been a lot of fun," Anderson said. "It's been a lot of work and travel, but what's really neat is I've had the opportunity to get out and see a lot of people. School is getting ready to start and I think it'll actually slow down a little bit then."

Anderson made two key hires to his staff with the retention of Haith assistant Tim Fuller and former Huntington (W. Va.) Prep coach Rob Fulford. Four-star recruit Montaque "Teki" Gill-Caesar — a 6-6 wing — recently signed on for this season.

Six freshmen and four sophomores comprise the majority of a roster that will be among the youngest in the Southeastern Conference.

And speaking of the SEC, that's going to be a new experience in of itself for Anderson, an old Big 8/Big 12 Conference man.

"It'll be different," Anderson said of visiting SEC cities. "I'm still trying to get a hold of the fact that it's Missouri and we're in the SEC, playing Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Florida and those schools.

"It'll be exciting. It'll be a great challenge. There's obviously some great programs in what I think is an underestimated league."

Anderson admits he's in a honeymoon period right now — "we haven't played a game yet" — but is eager to finally get a chance to sit in Stewart's old seat, so to speak.

In a way, he's coaching for Division II coaches who never got the chance at this level.

"I'm proud to be a (former) Division II coach – and you have a good one in this town (Drury's Steve Hesser). I'm proud that the last two national championships in Division II come from the state of Missouri.

"There are some great coaches in Division II. Great coaches and players. I hope things do go well (for me) because maybe it will give someone else a chance."

About that MSU game ...

I asked Kim Anderson if he'd like to schedule an in-state game with Missouri State. The teams last played in the 1998 preseason NIT. Anderson was diplomatic: "We haven't even thought about that, so I'll probably avoid that question right now. I know down the line our schedule is pretty full for the next few years. That's something we'll have to visit at a later date."